Like most 12 year old girls, I was horse crazy and dreamt of having my own horse to love and ride. Over the years we sometimes rented horses for trail rides, and occasionally had a friend with horses, but I never had my own. Then with my weight growing past 250 lbs. (on my way to 300), I didn't even want to ride, nor did I think I even could. Since losing almost half my body weight through this wonderful MGB surgery, I have felt the stirrings of desire to ride again. Well guess what this 54 year old grandma did this week?? I bought a horse!! And I can get on him -- and he doesn't groan from the weight -- and and I can get off him -- by myself -- and I'm having fun! My surgery was almost a year and a half ago, and I truly am a new woman. I have said it before, but when I was a teenager I was spiritually born again when Jesus became my Lord and Savior, and now I truly feel born again in a physical way. I am constantly amazed and delighted at the many ways my life has changed and the way I feel. My husband has a new wife, my kids have a new mom, and my grandkids have a new grandma. For the first time in many many years my weight is in the "normal" range, and not so long ago, it was (oh dreaded word!) morbidly obese. What a ride!!